Small gold nanoparticles with narrow size distribution achieved in SBA-15 pores by using ionic silsesquioxane instead of thiol group as stabilizer and adhesion agent

• Published in: Microporous and mesoporous materials Vol. 270; pp. 48 - 56
• Main Authors: Didó, Cezar A., Caneppele, Carlos D.G., Schneid, Andressa C., Pereira, Marcelo B., Costa, Tania M.H., Benvenutti, Edilson V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01-11-2018
• Subjects: AuNPs; Mesoporous silica; Metal nanocatalyst; Ordered mesopores; Metal nanocatalyst; Ordered mesopores; Mesoporous silica; AuNPs
• ISSN: 1387-1811; 1873-3093
• DOI: 10.1016/j.micromeso.2018.04.047

Organofunctionalized SBA-15 was obtained using two organic precursors, mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane and/or an ionic silsesquioxane that contains the 1,4-diazoniabicyclo[2.2.2]octane group. These materials were used as support for gold nanoparticles loading, aiming to study their ability as gold nanoparticle stabilizers and also as adhesion agents on SBA-15 pore surface. Different gold amounts were employed to synthesize gold nanoparticles inside of pores. The materials were studied by using elemental and thermogravimetric analyses, adsorption-desorption isotherms, X-ray diffraction, UV–Vis spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. From these techniques, it was possible to compare the behaviour of both organic groups and their performance aiming to obtain gold nanocatalyst supported on SBA-15. The use of ionic silsesquioxane leads to smaller and spherical gold nanoparticles with narrower size distribution, and as consequence, the material presents better performance as catalyst.
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•Influence of stabilizer and adhesion agent on size and shape of AuNPs nanocatalyst.•Small size AuNPs dispersed inside of SBA-15 pores.•Narrow size distribution of AuNPs adhered on surface of ordered silica pores.•Ionic silsesquioxane as efficient stabilizer and adhesion agent for AuNPs.